The next time you’re on West 40th Street, look up to see the new banners outside of 219, one of the finishing touches signifying that the J-School is now officially The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York. This summer edition of our newsletter is full of other exciting changes and alumni, faculty, and staff updates. Be sure to check out the Q&A with Melissa Noel, ’12, and a Class of 2014 love story on the wedding of Rebecca Bratek and Terence Cullen.

Alumni Updates

ON THE MOVE

After taking a leap of faith and moving to Mexico City to do freelance work, Vicki Adame, ’17, accepted a job asa news editor for the Xinhua News Agency.

Althea Chang, ’12, recently started a new role as associate director of content development at Consumer Reports. The former senior news editor at The Drive at Meredith will be editing stories for the web and covering automobiles, money, and technology.

Kara Chin, ’16, was promoted from associate producer to producer and lead video editor for the sponsored financial video series at Business Insider.

Kimberly Chin, ’17, started a new position as business breaking news reporter at The Wall Street Journal in June.

In June, Brett Dahlberg, ’17, began a new job as health reporter and producer at WXXI, the NPR affiliate in Rochester, NY.

John Friia, ’17, is working as an associate producer for NY1.

Patrick Gillespie, ’14, joined Bloomberg News as a reporter and is now based in Buenos Aires, where he is covering Argentina’s economy and government.

In June, Katie Honan,’10, joined The Wall Street Journal as a reporter covering City Hall in New York City.

Former associate producer for “60 Minutes” Erin Horan,’12, has moved to “CBS This Morning” as an anchor/producer. Horan was recently nominated for an Outstanding Edited Interview Emmy for “Prisoner 760,” the story of former Guantanamo Bay detainee Mohamedou Slahi.

Former Business Insider Wall Street correspondent, Rachael Levy, ’14, is now a hedge fund reporter for The Wall Street Journal.

Barbara Marcolini,’16, was hired as a staff video producer at The New York Times. She’s working with the visual investigations team reporting and editing stories based on open source investigations.

This fall, Brianna McGurran, ’14, will start teaching Professional Communications and Presentations, and Business Writing at Lehman College. She has been a full-time staff writer and spokesperson at NerdWallet for more than three years.

Mark Morales, ’09, started a job in June as a CNN reporter covering law enforcement and cybersecurity issues.

In June, Denisse Moreno,’14, joined the Bronx DA’s office as a public information officer.

Kudos

Valerio Bassan, Tow-Knight ’17, won a funding award from Google News Initiative’s Digital News Innovation Fund. Bassan is working on a paywall model called Istmo that rewards loyal readers and supports publications working toward business sustainability.

Go Baller Media, founded in 2014 by Chris Dell,’13, through the Tow-Knight Center for Entrepreneurial Journalism,recently partnered with the San Francisco Housing Development Corporation. They will be building a new website and managing digital/social media branding and marketing for the restoration of the historic Fillmore Heritage Center. Go Baller’s Meetup group, B.Y.O.B. – Build Your Own Brand, was recently featured in 50 Meetups & Conferences for Brand Managers to Attend in 2018 & 2019 by MerlinOne.

In June, Kat Long, ’15, (pictured above with host Alex Trebek)appeared as a contestant on “Jeopardy!”, and was close to making it to the final round before being eliminated in the Shakespeare category. Kat was also selected to participate in the Kavli Science Editing Workshop at the Online News Association’s 2018 Conference in Austin, Texas.

Angely Mercado, ’16, was featured in a Now This video, discussing body image, race, and stereotypes.

CEO and Founder of Hindsight Technology Solutions and Tow-Knight Fellow, ’18, Hersh Patel, will launch his new product, “Smart-Tagging” with The Virginian-Pilot in September. The tool will enable readers to gain information on key terms while viewing a piece.

Jeanne Pinder’s, ’10, “Cracking the Code” health cost investigation with NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune and WVUE Fox 8 Live in New Orleans won a national Edward R. Murrow award for continuing coverage. Jeanne was the lead reporter for her startup Clear Health Costs.

Brian Reich,’16, led the communications team for the United Bid of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, which in June, was awarded the rights to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. A speechwriter and strategist, he also runs a sports fan intelligence startup called Casual. His book, The Imagination Gap, will be published by the end of the year.

Ana Maria Rodriguez,’15, and her colleague Eulimar Núñez published an immersive video project, When Abortion is a Lifeline on Univision Noticias. The project explores how laws that prohibit access to abortion in Latin America and the Caribbean infringe upon women’s rights. Rodriguez also started working part-time teaching in the communications department at the University of Miami.

Roxanne Scott, ’14, was awarded a Pulitzer Center Grant for Crisis Reporting. The grant will give Scott the opportunity to travel to Nigeria to report on food insecurity and health.

Mary Stachyra Lopez,’09, won first place for social justice reporting (sub-category “Call to Family, Community and Participation”) from the Catholic Press Association’s 2018 Catholic Media Conference Awards for her article “Love, the universal language.”

Althea Chang, ’12, had her headshot taken while representing the J-School at AAJA 2018 in Houston, TX in August.

Craig Newmark chatted with Class of 2016 alums Emily Holzknecht and Doha Madani at a reception in June celebrating his $20 million gift to the J-School. (Photo by Skyler Reid, ’13)

NAHJ 2018 MIAMI

Claudia Cruz,’08, was recognized with the NAHJ 2018 Sí Se Puede Leadership Award for her work leading the Bay Area chapter for the past three years, where she brought in more than $40,000 in grants and in-kind donations.

J-School alumni posed for a fun picture after an NAHJ breakfast at the Intercontinental Hotel’s Olé restaurant in Miami.

Class of 2012 alumnae Melissa Noel (left) and Kizzy Cox won awards for Best Single Story Feature in Digital Reporting and Best Short-Form Radio Feature on a Network, respectively, at the 2018 NABJ Salute To Excellence Awards.

J-School Love Story

(Photo Credit: Iburi Photography)

Rebbecca Bratek,’14, and Terence Cullen, ’14, met at the J-School in 2013. Rebecca said that on their first day, they almost ran into each other literally as they were passing through the newsroom’s glass door.

They soon became good friends in Wayne Svoboda’s Craft 1 class and started dating in January 2014. In April 2016, Terence popped the question at one of their favorite hiking spots, Shadmoor State Park in Montauk, NY.

On May 26, Rebecca, a social producer for CBS News, and Terence, communications director for Astoria Councilman Costa Constantinides, were married at the Hotel Lafayette in Buffalo, NY. Terence’s brother officiated at the ceremony, which was attended by many of their J-School friends.

J-School Babies

Mirva Lempiainen, ’09, and husband Jean-François Antier welcomed their daughter Lily on May 16, 2018. They are based in Guadeloupe, the French Caribbean. Mirva is a freelance travel writer, and Lily is becoming quite the little traveler as she accompanies her mom on reporting trips.

Q&A with Melissa Noel, '12

Melissa was honored as a “Woman of Influence” at the inaugural Guyanese Girls Rock Foundation Honors and Awards Luncheon on June 23 in Queens, NY.

Many alums will recognize Melissa Noel not only as a Class of 2012 graduate but also from her many years assisting and mentoring students in the J-School’s Research Center. She recently accepted a position as a TV correspondent for international news and lifestyle programs in the Caribbean region. She will also be the alumni speaker at the Newmark J-School’s 2018 commencement ceremony in December.

1. What role has the J-School played in your life?

The J-School was not only where I earned my master’s in journalism but also where I put my expanded experience to practice as a part-time staff member in the Research Center after graduation.

While I built my brand as a reporter and sought opportunities to cultivate my niche in Caribbean-region reporting, the J-School provided me with opportunities for growth, from training sessions and workshops to networking. The genuine support and guidance I received during my tenure there are priceless.

2. What do you consider to be your biggest accomplishment so far?

There isn’t just one thing I would choose, but rather a series of things. One of my main goals as a reporter was to focus on underreported stories of the Caribbean and the wider African diaspora. There was really no blueprint for that or any traditional path I could take. I had to carve out this niche as I went along.

In 2017, I was selected as an ICFJ Bringing Home The World International Reporting Fellow, a USC Center For Health Journalism fellow, and a Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting grantee. The training and funding support I received gave me the resources to report on the mental health impact of migration on Caribbean families, both in the region and the United States.

The nbcnews.com series that resulted led to an invitation from the International Labour Organization to present before United Nations policymakers set to vote last February on the global compact for migration.

I also recently won my first NABJ award for best single story feature in digital reporting. I couldn’t be more thankful for the recognition of this work, but for a win in highlighting issues impacting diaspora communities.

3. Why did you choose journalism?

My parents immigrated to the U.S. from Guyana in the 1980’s, and my maternal grandmother soon followed. They moved to the New York City first and later settled in New Jersey, where I grew up.

One of my regular tasks was going to Joe’s West Indian American market to get Caribbean newspapers for my grandmother. I would sit and read the local Guyanese papers to her, and my grandmother’s face would light up to learn what was happening at home. The connection she felt to those stories and how the words made her feel is why I became a journalist. I wanted to connect people to the world around them, to tell and share their stories.

4. Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I see myself expanding my role in media, not only as a multimedia journalist and television correspondent but also with roles in television production and media management. I will also continue teaching at the collegiate level in the U.S. and the Caribbean, where my goal is to start an organization that will train young journalists across the region. Whatever I do, I just want my work to have positive impact.

Faculty and Staff News

Geraldine Baumis joining the Newmark J-School as assistant dean of external affairs, a newly created position.

On May 19, Social Journalism Director Carrie Brown spoke at the PhDigital Bootcamp at Texas State University, a program to help faculty design innovative courses and curriculum.

Jenny Choi, formerly the deputy director of the News Integrity Initiative, has moved into a new grant-funded role at the Newmark J-School, as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion Initiatives. In this position, she will assist the school by providing leadership and coordination of our diversity-oriented grants.

After six years at the J-School, Joanna Hernandezaccepted a full-time faculty position at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications, as a digital storytelling lecturer and director of inclusion and diversity. During her time at the Newmark J-School, Joanna served as director of career services, director of diversity initiatives, chair of the Diversity Committee, and head of the Knight Diversity Summer Internship Program.

Jere Hester appeared on an edition of MetroFocus with alum Ben Fractenberg, ’09, who is a reporter with The Forward, and with Bklyner.com editor Liena Zagare to discuss the state of local news in New York. Hester was quoted on the same topic on Politico and The Associated Press.

Journalist and former civil rights attorney Alia Malek has joined the Newmark J-School as director of the International Reporting Program. Malek is the author of two books and has written for publications including The New York Times, Foreign Policy, NewYorker.com, the Nation, the Christian Science Monitor and Jadaliyya.

Alexa Maurer joined the Student Affairs / Career Services team as administrative coordinator. She previously worked in York College’s Academic Affairs Department, at New York Code + Design Academy, and at Hunter College.

Christa Noelle is leaving the J-School after six years but is very excited for her next adventure as Associate Director, Integrated Student Services at Wake Forest University School of Business in Winston-Salem, NC. Stay in touch with Christa at christa.noelle.h@gmail.com

Admissions Director Colleen Leigh attended the 2018 Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month reception at Gracie Mansion on May 10, 2018, where she caught up with New York City’s Director of Community and Ethnic Press/Deputy Press Secretary Jose Bayona, ’11.

Career Services

Mentoring Program:

Please join Career Services and Alumni Services as we start a mentoring program at the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism. We’d like to start next spring with the Class of 2019. Come share your knowledge.

Fall Job & Internship Fair:

Are you ready for the next opportunity in your career? Please join us on Thursday, Oct. 18, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for our Fall Job & Internship Fair. This is the J-School’s largest fair. Last year, representatives from nearly 50 companies attended.

GIVING @ THE J-SCHOOL

Be a Next Gen Donor!

J+ Workshops

J+ would like to offer our alumni 50% off select digital skills workshops using code ALUM50.

J+ is a series of affordable and convenient digital skills workshops such as social media and audience engagement, video storytelling for the web, drone journalism and more for working journalists, freelancers, photographers, video journalists and other communicators.

Research Center

We Want to Publicize Your Work

Alumni interested in promoting or highlighting their work are strongly encouraged to pitch their stories to Social Media Marketing Manager Ellen Lai, who presides over the J-School's social media accounts.